Search - Fred Eaglesmith :: Milly's Cafe

Fredheads Rejoice: "Milly's Cafe" is Vintage Eaglesmith

Dustin Georgemiller | Goshen, IN | 05/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm fresh from a live Fred Eaglesmith concert in Goshen, IN and was lucky enough to snag a copy of Fred's newest album, "Milly's Cafe," which was released less than a week ago. Fred has always been sort of a musical enigma - he's a Canadian "liberal who hates liberals," a singer-songwriter who sings songs about trucks, cowboys, liquor, and guns better than people who truly hail from Texarcana. Musically, he's always followed his muse: his albums have varied from alt-country to pure country, bluegrass to billhilly, acoustic folk to folk rock. His sound, and his band, can vary from one album to the next, and that's okay from his small but devoted fanbase, known affectionately as "Fredheads."



"Milly's Cafe" is in this case vintage Fred, relying on long-time collaborator and friend Willie P. Bennett, the one constant from Fred's early days with the Flying Squirrels. Here, the sound is pure alt-country, relying on a small ensemble of electric and acoustic instruments and especially Bennett's electric mandolin and harmonica. The overall feel is mellower than the hard-rocking "50-Odd Dollars"; Fred's songwriting more often than not emotes elements of hardship, loss, and aging. "Rocky" takes the form of a letter from one aging cowboy to another dying of cancer in Albuquerque. It's companion song, "Tired", is another wonderful minor key cowboy ballad, while the title cut tells the story of failed diner-owners-turned-outlaws. "18 Wheels" should go down as one of Fred's best trucking songs to date.



Fans of "Balin'" may be disappointed with the lack of banjo, but Fred fans who have heard the gamut of his works should rejoice: "Milly's Cafe" will not disappoint, and this could be his best release since 1998's "drive-in movie.""

Danger Pay

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 06/18/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fred's new set is a slow reflective collection of tunes that delve deep into loneliness. The opener "18 Wheels" sounds big with Fred's deliberate guitar churning like wheels on the road, "Up against the wall, 56 tons, grain alcohol, Danger pay, I'm trying to be strong but my will is gone." In "18 Wheels" he mentions Sioux City, Iowa, but in track 2 he turns south to "Kansas" in another stark lonely ballad, "That's where I fall apart, That's where my broken heart catches up with the news." On "Summer is Over," he continues his brokenhearted lament which slides easily into "Thinking 'bout Her" with its eerie melody aching chronic desire. After 4 heartbreakers, the middle of the set moves into story songs. "Rocky," the title track about a closed diner, "Tired" about finding the body of Ray McGuire, and "Mrs. Hank Williams" all have characters that focus on memory & lament. Of the last two songs, "Sign on the Wall" is a ballad about a small town where nothing much happens, "We thought we bought the American dream; we were just a sign on the wall." "The Rains" ends the set with some amazing images about guys who pour gasoline on Main Street & set it on fire, "Some say it's a tragedy, some say it's a shame; some say it's the water that we never got to drink; Some blame Jesus; Some blame rock n' roll; I think we were just trying to gain a little bit of control." It's an excellent close to this stark & lonesome set, as if these powerful emotions of sadness, loss and regret are so strong that they simply must be set aflame. Eaglesmith's tunes feel homespun & ragged. While not upbeat, this is powerful music. Enjoy!"

Best yet

Ian Williamson | Aberdeen Scotland United Kingdom | 06/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to confess to being a huge fan of the man's work however this is an outstanding record and a very rare thing an Album without a bad track. If you listen to nothing else check out Rocky it will make you cry, the vision of an old man in a home just waitin to die, so sad but brilliant Fred I aggree with the previous reviewer his best Album since "Drive In Movie""